FY2026 Work Program

This program provides leadership to the region on the development and implementation of strategies to maintain healthy ecological systems, improve air and water quality, manage risks posed by natural hazards and severe weather, reduce pollution, protect open space, provide access to parks and outdoor recreation opportunities and promote the sustainable use of natural resources, all while distributing community outcomes fairly across the region. This program supports the goals outlined in Connections 2050 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA/BIL).

This program supports NJDOT MPO Planning Priorities by working to achieve consistency with the principles of the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan; by supporting greater coordination with other MPOs, NJDOT, transit agencies, TMAs and subregions in mobility and land use planning; by promoting clean-powered public transit options and non-motorized transportation in an effort to reduce air pollution, particularly in low-income communities; by encouraging counties and municipalities to promote public health principles and practices whenever possible in implementation of transportation projects; and by incorporating environmental stewardship principles into transportation investments.

The program supports PennDOT’s planning priorities by incorporating environmental stewardship principles into transportation investments; by tying the quality and location of transportation facilities to livability, sustainability and resiliency goals; and by supporting PennDOT Connects.

Staff will lead planning efforts to maintain and improve air and water quality, manage stormwater, mitigate natural hazards, preserve open space, enhance and increase access to parks and natural areas, and distribute community outcomes fairly across the region. Staff will analyze and share data, provide technical assistance, and facilitate/contribute to conversations among planning partners and stakeholders to advance environmental goals, with a focus on implementation actions and policy development. To the degree appropriate for a given task or project, work will be approached in an integrated way, drawing on staff expertise across DVRPC offices and partner agencies to best achieve desired outcomes.

Staff will assist Mercer County in their efforts to resolve a multi-municipal stormwater issue at the intersection of NJ State Highway 31 and Delaware Avenue (CR 624)/Pennington-Titusville Road in Pennington Borough. Currently, the road floods and closes to traffic in heavy storms. Five public agencies and several private developers, most of which are outside of Pennington Borough, are responsible for the stormwater contributing to the flooding. DVRPC will convene stakeholders to review technical documents produced by the county and their consultants, identify and build consensus around conceptual improvements needed to resolve the flooding issues, and work to identify the agreements and supporting documents needed to equitably allocate responsibility for shared solutions among all parties.

As part of a “Special Topic Workshop and Memo Series,” staff will evaluate the potential to create “green urban alleyways”. Given their low traffic volumes, green alleyways can be designed with low-impact pavement materials such as previous pavement or pavers that allow water to infiltrate into the ground or into a slow-release collection system. These materials can also be designed with a lower albedo and high reflectivity to reduce the heat island effect. Alleyways also offer opportunities to install low-maintenance landscaping and greening that can absorb more stormwater and further reduce the heat island effect. In addition, alleyways often run parallel to the larger street network, providing lower stress and safer routes for cyclists, pedestrians and e-micromobility users. 

To support continued development of the TIP and regional long-range plan, Connections 2050, staff will utilize data and spatial analysis to assess the impacts of transportation projects on environmental resources, identify mitigation opportunities, and track the region’s progress towards meeting its environmental goals, as needed. The program will continue to evaluate potential environmental impacts of TIP candidate projects for PennDOT Connects.

Analysis and data collected under this project will support DVRPC’s transportation resilience initiatives, including the potential development of a regional Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP). In particular, this program will focus on increasing awareness and promoting the use of nature-based solutions, such as tree canopy, green stormwater infrastructure, urban greening, wetlands and woodlands, to increase resilience.

Staff will provide guidance to stakeholders that minimize and mitigate the impacts of transportation infrastructure on environmental resources, including but not limited to water quality, rare species habitat, and cultural and historic resources. Data gathered and tools developed may be used to strengthen the linkages between environmental stewardship and transportation investments, and streamline the environmental review process.

Staff will evaluate PENNVEST candidate projects and PECO Green Region applications, as requested.

Information about work completed in this program area will be updated on the website, as needed.

Completion of tasks in this program may require the purchase of materials, supplies, and other services.

1. Convene stakeholders to facilitate coordination and collaboration around shared stormwater solutions with representatives from NJDOT, NJDEP, Mercer County, Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough, the nearby high school, and private property owners, who currently separately maintain stormwater treatment and conveyance facilities.Assess and process technical data provided by Mercer County and develop concept stormwater improvements.
2. Facilitate conversations with stakeholders in Mercer County to define a collective process for implementing stormwater solutions.
3. Collect data, research, and conduct outreach needed to support a workshop or informational product highlighting the benefits of and opportunities for creating green alleyways. Identify specific areas or locations as potential examples of what can be done. 
4. Maintain the locally-funded open space programs inventory, database, and webpage.
5. Provide data and technical assistance, and facilitate coordination of open space preservation activities, as needed.
6. Develop data and metrics for Connections 2050, Tracking Progress.
7. Evaluate candidate transportation projects for PennDOT Connects and the NJ Capital Program Screening process, as requested.
8. Collect and synthesize data to support regional resilience analysis, programs, and planning activities.
9. Evaluate and rank PECO Green Region applications, as required.
10. Provide technical assistance to municipalities around water quality, green infrastructure, resilience, and sustainability initiatives.
11. Provide support for environmental meetings and convenings, as needed.

1. Meeting highlights, maps, and documentation for the Mercer County Stormwater Collaboration Project.
2. A workshop or memo series installment on green urban alleyways.
3. Updated map, tables, and webpage for locally-funded open space programs.
4. Data and tables on open space, water quality, or other environmental metrics for Tracking Progress.
5. Meeting materials including notes, maps, and presentations.
6. Updated subject matter webpages.

PA Department of Transportation, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, NJ Department of Transportation, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, counties, municipalities, nonprofits, community-based organizations, land trusts, the private sector, and the members of the public.